Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge! Chapter 188 To Love Is To Pity

Haruto sat in his car, the gentle hum of his favorite music filling the space as he waited.

He glanced at his watch—a sleek design with a silver band—and noted the ti: 11 a.m. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

The sun cast its warm glow over the quiet Sunday, the kind of day perfect for resting his mind from both his studies and his intricate revenge plans.

But rest wasn't on today's agenda. Instead, he had a different mission—to introduce a new mber to his team for investigating the Ito Crown.

As he adjusted the rearview mirror absentmindedly, the passenger door suddenly opened, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

"Sorry for making you wait," Ayaka said, her voice soft and tinged with warmth as she settled gracefully into the seat.

The faint scent of jasmine intertwined with a hint of vanilla filled the car, subtle yet captivating.

Ayaka was dressed in a flowing white dress paired with a light green knit sweater adorned with a small white rose.

A similar rose nestled in her hair, a delicate touch that only enhanced her charm.

There was sothing almost ethereal about her presence, as if she carried an innate magnetism that drew the eye.

It was a quiet, natural allure that set her apart from every other woman he'd encountered.

'Is this how won feel when they look at ?'

Haruto mused, recalling his unnaturally high charm attribute.

"Haruto," Ayaka's voice cut through his thoughts, her tone teasing yet gentle.

"Do I wear sothing you like?"

Haruto jolted slightly, caught off guard by her observation. A light flush crept onto his cheeks as he stumbled to respond.

"Y-Yeah," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I like the perfu you're wearing. And, uh… your dress. It's beautiful."

Ayaka laughed softly, her voice like a gentle lody. "I knew you'd like it," she said with a playful wink before continuing, "I'm excited to et your friends today."

"Ah, right. Let's go," Haruto said, quickly starting the engine to mask his embarrassnt.

The car humd to life, and they began their journey toward the new base.

As they drove, Haruto recalled the reaction of his team when he first ntioned Ayaka joining them.

The mory brought a smirk to his face. He had casually told Old Futto, Arataki, and Enji about Ayaka, and their responses had been anything but casual.

The trio had exchanged tense glances, their eyes darting to the chaotic ss that was their usual eting space—a cramped room littered with papers, snack wrappers, and random bits of equipnt.

"This won't do!" Old Futto declared, his voice brimming with an energy Haruto had never seen from him before.

"We need to move our base to a proper location imdiately!"

Haruto blinked, taken aback. "What's the big deal? It's just an introduction and a quick discussion about our plans. She won't care about the room."

Enji shot him a sharp glare and grabbed his shoulder. "Are you serious? Just because your charm can make any girl overlook this ss doesn't an we should rely on it! Be more considerate!"

Arataki nodded in agreent, his arms crossed. "I still have my doubts about this girl, but there's no way we're letting her see us in this… otaku den. It'd ruin our image!"

"This is about our pride as n!" Old Futto had chid in, his expression brimming with determination.

Before Haruto could protest further, the trio had sprung into action. Without consulting him, they'd relocated the team to a new base, one that Arataki had apparently arranged.

Now, as Haruto drove with Ayaka beside him, he couldn't help but feel a mix of amusent and curiosity.

He had yet to see the new base himself, but judging by his teammates' enthusiasm, he was confident it would be an improvent.

However, as Haruto glanced at Ayaka, sitting calmly and composed despite her daunting role as a potential spy, an inexplicable worry gnawed at him.

Her serene expression only made him wonder about the shadows that surely haunted her past.

'She's been through so much, hasn't she?' he thought, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

'How does soone who's lived in a nightmare from childhood still manage to smile like that?'

Haruto knew all too well the weight of pain and suffering.

His first life had taught him that bitter lesson—he'd seen how shattered Haruka had beco at the hands of Daiki and his gang.

Now, looking at Ayaka, he felt a mix of awe and unease. She was strong, no doubt, but how long could even the strongest person endure a lifeti of hurt?

"Haruto," Ayaka's voice suddenly broke his thoughts, soft yet tinged with concern.

"I'll be fine," she said, her lips curling into a faint, reassuring smile. "I'm not going to break that easily."

"Don't say it like that," Haruto sighed, his voice heavy. "You're not an object, Ayaka."

She didn't respond right away, choosing instead to hold his gaze, her smile lingering but bittersweet.

The air between them grew heavy, thick with unspoken words.

But then his mind ca back to the day in the library, Ayaka was still an enigmatic woman.

Sotis her words were comforting and gentle like flower petals but sotis it was unhinged to the point he didn't know what she said was sincerity or not.

But he knows for sure, this girl beside him could manipulate him and it would cause a problem in the future.

A sudden chi from the system snapped him out of his thoughts.

Startled, Haruto instinctively pressed the brakes, the car jerking slightly as his hand shot out to steady Ayaka before she could lurch forward.

"Ah, sorry," he muttered, pulling the car over to the side of the road.

He exhaled deeply, leaning back into the seat to regain his composure.

Ayaka looked at him, her concern deepening. "Are you okay? Why did you stop so suddenly?"

"I thought I saw a cat," he lied quickly, offering her a sheepish smile.

That seed to put her at ease, and she nodded, though silence fell between them again.

As Ayaka turned her attention back to the window, Haruto glanced at the system notification that had appeared:

[New Quest Available!]

[Quest: The Princess Hiding Pain.]

[Description: Ayaka Yoshida has endured a cruel childhood and heartless parents. She's missed out on the joys of a normal childhood and bears a heavy burden of pain. ]

[Objective: Entertain her and help her experience the simple joys she's been deprived of. In doing so, you may begin to heal her suffering. ]

[Rewards: 600 EXP, 25,000 Sex Coins, New Item: Heart Potion ]

[Ti Limit: 23 hours, 59 minutes ]

'What is this quest…?'

Haruto's hand instinctively ran through his hair, a nervous habit as he tried to make sense of the task.

How could he bring up such a sensitive topic with her?

"Haruto?" Ayaka's voice interrupted his thoughts again, her face leaning closer to his.

"Are you sure you're okay? You've been acting strange."

Her proximity made his heart skip a beat, but he quickly composed himself. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied again, forcing a small chuckle. "I just… needed a mont to think."

Ayaka tilted her head, unconvinced but unwilling to press him further. Instead, she leaned in closer, her gaze piercing yet gentle.

"You're the first person who's ever looked at like that," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're not the one in pain, yet you look like you're carrying the weight of the world when you're with ."

Her hand reached out, soft and deliberate, to brush against his face.

Haruto instinctively caught her hand, holding it gently. "Do you hate it?" he asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.

Her lips curved into a soft chuckle. "Of course not. Don't you know? Love can grow from pity and suffering."

Haruto blinked, surprised by her words, as she continued, her tone steady yet filled with emotion.

"If you pity , if it makes you think about constantly, makes you want to hold , comfort , and protect …" She paused, her gaze never leaving his.

"Then so be it. To love is to pity. If bodies are connected through pleasure, then souls are united through pain."

Her words struck him deeply, resonating with his own feelings.

She was right—he did pity her, and it was that pity, that shared understanding of pain, that made him feel so drawn to her.

Without another word, Haruto leaned in, resting his forehead gently against hers.

He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of her presence, the weight of her suffering.

In that mont, it wasn't just their bodies that were close—it was their souls, bound together by shared pain and unspoken understanding.

He would find a way to fulfill the quest. But more than that, he would find a way to ease the burden Ayaka carried, not because of the system, but because he truly cared.

Haruto's hesitation began to dissolve, lting away like frost under the warmth of her words.

He no longer cared if this woman might one day manipulate him.

In this mont, her voice was earnest, carrying a sincerity that hadn't been there in the library.

She wasn't hiding behind her usual guarded deanor. There was no veil of mystery or calculated charm—just raw, unfiltered emotion.

It was clear to him now: Ayaka truly loved him.

And as a man, there was only one response he could give to a love so genuine.

'As for manipulation, I will leave it to the system.'